Remove your hitch when not towing?

[Redback]

Interesting
http://www.asshat.com.au/moronsptyltd/Page.asp?PageID=558

What if it's a permanent hitch and not a tongue?? (ie) a car.

[rotare]

I'd like to see them enforce it since every second car has a tow hitch fitted where I live.

It may be deemed illegal, but in nearly 30 years of having a license I've never heard of someone being booked.

I better make sure I fold my side mirrors in too when not using them just in case a pedestrian bumps into them with their shoulder....

[Snow]

I remove my hitch bar when it's not in use to save my shins and deter would be tealeafs. Here in NSW the rule only states that the hitch is not to protrude dangerously. Very subjective but, it does not mandate removal of the bar. When I took delivery of my Everest the bar was fitted up ready to go so Ford doesn't think it is dangerous.
I store the bar in the stock rear under floor compartment with the jack and tools (Same with Mrs Snow's Rav4) and have fitted McHitch hitches to both my camper and boxy drawbars relieving the need for more than one bar.

[kylarama]

Never removed the hitch due to having forgotten the hitch one time and a locking pin fitted. Not to mention laziness....  Plus on the Prado the factory hitch protrudes no further than the factory spare wheel cover.

A Mitsubishi SUV boot rooted our Prado last week.  Damage looked very minimal to ours, as the hitch appeared to do most of the damage to the other car.  Still managed to do 3K damage to our car. Rear bar, spare wheel cover and spare wheel bracket.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[Bird]

I'd like to see them enforce it since every second car has a tow hitch fitted where I live.

Sort of like people on mobiles, cars with 1 headlight, etc etc.. they could clear the national debt in a month

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Sort of like people on mobiles, cars with 1 headlight, etc etc.. they could clear the national debt in a month

Just like in Vic..
Where the boys aren't interested in pinging anybody, unless it involves points on Licenses apparently.

[loanrangie]

Just like in Vic..
Where the boys aren't interested in pinging anybody, unless it involves points on Licenses apparently.

  And they have camera's for that, dont have to move their fat arse from the vehicle at all.

[Craig Tomkinson]

Hi All, When I bought the 80 series  5 or 6 years ago the tongue was that loose, it slopped backwards and forward and rattled that bad, I pulled the tongue tight and spot welded the the fours corners it has not moved or rattled sense. Craig

[rotare]

Not sure what others have, but my hitch with ball connected is a fair slug of metal.  Unless strapped and secured inside the vehicle when not in use, I'd suspect it would do a fair bit of damage inside a vehicle, and to occupants, if you were ever in a roll over or be involved in a significant vehicle impact.

[Bird]

  And they have camera's for that, dont have to move their fat arse from the vehicle at all.

I dunno.. In the middle of nowhere other day coming back from Portland there were 4 of em standing hidden beside an abandoned building in small country town that looked like it had been extinct for last 35 yrs..
1 with camera shooting almost down the verandah to the road (was on a corner), and 3 like council workers, and 1 bout klm down the road with some P Plater who probably did 1klm over, or smiled in public or similar deadly crime... If only he had of done a aggrevated burg instead he'd be in the clear.

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

  And they have camera's for that, dont have to move their fat arse from the vehicle at all.

Just to clear up a small thing, speed cameras on side of the road are operated by sub-contractors, not by members.

[wilson79]

I remove as I have had 2 stolen on me already

[Bird]

I remove as I have had 2 stolen on me already

I cant believe people steal these things that often.. I've heard of it in caravan parks...  but not in the real world.

[wilson79]

I cant believe people steal these things that often.. I've heard of it in caravan parks...  but not in the real world.

Yep once in a motel in Mt Isa the other I think it was at the Bunnings car park in Townsville

[Rumpig]

Just to clear up a small thing, speed cameras on side of the road are operated by sub-contractors, not by members.

so you're saying they are to lazy to even do that now?

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

so you're saying they are to lazy to even do that now?

Rummy, your just nasty.

Dunno about elsewhere, but Vic. the Police have Subbied out the job of roadside Speed Camera's, been like that for years.
The 'Bosses' refer to it as more uniform police available for "Interaction with the Public."

[Rumpig]

Rummy, your just nasty.

Dunno about elsewhere, but Vic. the Police have Subbied out the job of roadside Speed Camera's, been like that for years.
The 'Bosses' refer to it as more uniform police available for "Interaction with the Public."

all jokes mate...the coppers in every state work hard for their money i'm sure, then watch their hard work go down the drain as soft judges give repeat offenders continual slaps on the wrist.

[stabicraft]

There are more important things to police.
Drunk/ drugged drivers.......when was the last time you were drug tested?
Bald tyres, lots of tgem around.
Dangerious vehicles/ trucks
4x4s that need a ladder to reach the drivers door.
Look at me lights, blinding everyone.

These things need more enfrcement, not a tow bar.

[NewieCamper]

I cant believe people steal these things that often.. I've heard of it in caravan parks...  but not in the real world.

I tried to get one out of a partially burnt out hilux in the bush once, damn thing was stuck solid. Wonder how many won't ever be coming out again?

[bellony]

all jokes mate...the coppers in every state work hard for their money i'm sure, then watch their hard work go down the drain as soft judges give repeat offenders continual slaps on the wrist.

Be careful rumpig. 3 pollies nearly went to jail for stating the obvious.

[moeite]

Mine stays in. Lost the key for the locking pin. 

[prodigyrf]

You can get radioactive ones but I use a standard one and hit it with some yellow marker paint I also have to spray the outer sides of the mudflaps and carry bar with as her indoors seems to struggle a bit watching where she's going-
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GLOW-IN-THE-DARK-HIGH-VIS-TOWBAR-SHIN-PROTECTOR-SHIN-GUARD-TOWBALL-ACCESSORY-/251302308162
Sometimes you need to consider suitable training aids in such highly technical matters     

[4runnernomore]

I remove mine on all my cars. I have the ozhitch so it sticks out a little bit to far and definitely do not want someone knocking it off.

Cheers, Chris

[alnjan]

I remove it.  It just makes sense. 

[Rumpig]

I remove it.  It just makes sense.

why does it "just make sense"?...mine is used regularly and doesn't protrude past the ladder or rubbish bag on the back of my canopy, so it "just makes sense" to me that I leave it on.